Voltage distributor for eliminating arcing in neon sign flasher



Sept. 29, 1964 G. B. HOLMES 3,151,223

VOLTAGE DISTRIBUTOR FOR ELIMINATING ARCING IN NEON SIGN FLASHER Filed Dec. 23. 1960 2 Sheetsi-Sheet 1 INVENT OR GARNET B. HOLMES Ma /PW ATTORNEY Sept.'29, 1964 G. B. HOLMES 3,151,223

vomcm DISTRIBUTOR FOR ELIMINATING ARCING IN NEON SIGN FLASHER Filed Dec. 23, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IT; a.

IIl/Il/II II 1/ 1 III IIIII III 1 II 1 III/II II 1/1 I] II/ 111/ I l GARNET B. HOLMES TIES- QM IFM ATTORNE? United States Patent 3,151,223 VOLTAGE DISTRIBUTOR FOR ELIMINATING ARCING IN NEON SIGN FLASHER Garnet B. Holmes, Midway Island, Va. (13719 Marianna Drive, Roclrville, Md), assignor of one-fourth to Glenroy M. Haney, Fredericltshurg, Va.

Filed Dec. 23, 1960, Ser. No. 78,145 4 Claims. (Cl. 200-19) This invention relates to a device for distributing high tension electricity for use in flashing or animated neon signs and similar lights. More specifically, the present invention relates to a novel timed rotatable distributor for flashing or animated neon signs which includes means for interrupting a low tension circuit to prevent arcing across high tension contacts.

In neon signs and the like of the flashing or animated type, high tension electricity is required to intermittently energize various light or bulb terminals to produce a desired flashing or animated effect. To this end, various devices have been proposed, but for a number of reasons they have been found unacceptable. More particularly, such prior constructions have produced arcing and radio interference due to the making and breaking of the high tension circuit as well as experiencing the erosion of the contact points.

Consequently, it is an important object of the present invention to provide a high tension electricity distributor for flashing neon signs and the like which neither arcs across the high tension connections nor causes radio interference.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a high tension electricity distributor for flashing neon signs and the like which includes means for periodically interrupting the primary transformer circuit.

Another object of this invention is to provide a distributor of high tension electricity for flashing neon signs including means for timing the interruptions of the primary transformer circuit to coincide with the breaking of the high tension circuit.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of means permitting proper electrical contact between contact points within the high tension circuit.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive and highly effective means for distributing high tension electricity when used for flashing neon signs and the like.

Other objects, advantages and capabilities of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings illustrating one preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view partly in section;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1; and a FIG. 3 is a sectional view along the line 3-3 of FIGJ.

According to the present invention, an illustrative embodiment of the novel high tension distributor for flashing neon signs and the like is shown in FIGS. 1-3 and designated generally by the reference numeral 10. This distributor includes a housing 12 which is box-like in shape but omits the left and right sides as seen from the drawings. This open construction provides desirable ventilation and permits easy access to the inner parts of the invention.

Secured to the top of the housing, as by bolts 13, is a high tension assembly 14 adapted to extend through the top as seen in FIG. 1. The assembly is fitted with a plurality of circularly arranged high tension leads 16 adapted to be connected each to various neon lights, lamps or the like (not shown). Electrically connected to each of the leads 16 and depending from the bottom of the assembly are a plurality of coplanar high tension contact points 18 also circularly arranged. Through the center of the high tension assembly 14, a high tension lead 20, from the transformer, is so disposed as to depend centrally downwardly terminating in the contact 22. High tension lead 20 and its contact 22 are electrically connected to the secondary or high tension circuit of a conventional transformer (not shown) provided with a source of high tension electricity which is intermittently tapped to energize individual contact points 18.

Coaxial with the centrally disposed high tension contact 22 is an insulating spindle 24 mounted for rotation about an axis through the high tension assembly 14. The spindle 24 may be composed of any suitable insulating material, such as rubber, glass, plastic and the like, and includes an upper shaft 26 and a lower shaft 28 constructed of metal and adapted to rotate with the spindle. The shafts are not connected but are insulated from each other by the spindle 24. Suitably attached to the upper shaft 26 is :a metal spring 36 adapted to continuously engage the high tension contact 22. Also mounted for rotation with the spindle is a rotor arm 32 which is secured to the upper shaft 26. At the end of the rotor arm remote from the spindle, there is positioned a flat, C-shaped metal spring contact which is adapted to engage individual high tension contacts 18 as the spindle 24 and thus the rotor arm 32 rotates. It is to be understood that the C-shaped metal spring contacts each of the high tension contact points 18 individually as the C-shaped spring rotates with the arm 32. At no time is there any Contact between any two of the contact points 18 through the rotor arm or the C-shaped metal spring. This type of spring contact has been found to be the preferable con struction as it provides excellent contact and yet is simple in construction.

Similarly, as the rotor arm is attached to the upper shaft for rotation therewith, the lower shaft 28 has positioned thereon cam means 34 secured for rotation with its shaft 23. Thus it will be seen that as the spindle rotates, so also will cam means 34 and rotor arm 32 rotate in fixed relative positions. The cam means includes a cam 36 and timing means on the cam which constitutes the shape of the cam. As seen from FIG. 3,

. the cam 36 is octagonal in shape, thereby providing a number (8) of edges 38 corresponding to the number (8) of high tension contacts. Of course, it is to be understood that there may be more or less high tension contact points with the number of edges 38 varying accordingly.

Disposed along side of the cam means 34 is a low tension primary circuit interrupter assembly 40 which is suitably secured to plate 41 bolted to the housing but insulated therefrom as well as from the secondary high tension circuit by insulation 42. This low tension interrupter or breaker assembly includes a first contact point 44 secured to a base 46 that is adjustably held to the insulation 42 by screws 48 and 50. As shown, the point 44 is movable to some degree by loosening screw 48 and permitting the base 46 to pivot about 50 by means of slot 52. Suitably mounted for a conventional resilient pivotal movement at 53 is contact arm 54 having a second contact point 56 thereon, as shown best in FIG. 3. This arm also includes a protruding leg 58 secured thereto which is adapted to engage the cam means as shown in FIG. 3. It can be thus seen that as the cam rotates, the contact arm will be given a to and fro movement by means of the contact of leg 58 with the cam. Each of these contact points being suitably connected to the low tension leads 6% of a transformer (not shown) are thus able to open and close the primary circuit of this transformer accordingly as the spindle 24 revolves and cam 36 urges leg 58 to open and close contact points 44 and 56.

Depending below plate 41 which is fixed to the housing is motor means assembly 64 for rotating the spindle 24. This motor means is conventional and need not be described in detail but includes the usual armatures 66, pole pieces 68 and rotating disc-like armature 70 mounted for rotation on shaft 72 within the motor means assembly 64. As will be seen from FIG. 1, suitable conventional gearing is supplied to transmit the rotation of the disc 70 to the lower shaft 28 of the spindle 24 by means of gear 74 on shaft 72 engaging gear 78 on rotatable shaft 76 to rotate gear 80 which in turn rotates shaft 28 by means of gear 82.

The operation of the present invention as illustrated by the preferred embodiment should be clear from the above description; however, a brief statement of operation may facilitate the understanding of the invention.

As the motor means 64 rotates the spindle 24 at a predetermined speed, both cam means 34 and rotor arm 32 will rotate in a fixed relationship to each other. This cam means including the cam 36 has a preselected shape to time the operation of the interrupter means including the to and fro movement of the resiliently pivoted contact arm 54 whereby the first contact 44 will be electrically engaged by the second contact 56 on the contact arm at intervals determined by the timing means on the cam 36. When the low tension contacts 44 and 56 are open, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the primary circuit to the transformer will be interrupted or opened and therefore no current will flow through the secondary circuit. At this time, the rotor arm 32, with its flat C-shaped contact spring 3t), will be positioned between two adjacent high tension contact points 18, as shown in FIG. 2. As the spindle rotates further, the rotor arm spring contact 30 will engage the next high tension contact, at which time the low tension contacts 44 and 56 will close due to the resilient action of the contact arms 54 and the leg 58 thereof engaging a flat side of cam 36, thus permitting the primary and the secondary transformer circuits to be energized, resulting in the neon lights connected to this high tension contact point being lighted.

Continued rotation of the spindle results in the spring contact 39 moving oif the high tension contact 18. It is to be noted that as this occurs, the cam 36 has rotated to engage leg 58 with cam edge 38 to open the primary circuit. Therefore, there will be no arcing between the spring contact 30 and the high tension contact 18 with the attendant advantages of no radio interference and no erosion of either the spring 30 or the high tension contacts 71$.

It will be seen that the above operation may occur quite rapidly, such that the lights may be energized and deenergized quickly, giving the desired flashing or animated eifect.

While only one preferred embodiment of this invention has been particularly shown and described, it is apparent that other modifications may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, and it is desired, therefore that only such limitations shall be placed thereon as are imposed by the prior art and are set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a neon sign voltage distributor for eliminating arcing of high tension voltage between realtively movable electrical contacts, the combination comprising, a housing, a spindle rotatable therein, a motor means Within said housing for rotating said spindle at a predetermined fixed rate of speed, a primary circuit interrupter means comprising, cam means positioned at one end of said spindle and rotatable therewith, a fixed contact point for a primary transformer circuit, a resiliently urged movable contact point for the primary circuit being adapted to be in intermittent electrical contact with said fixed contact point upon being cammed laterally by said cam means, a high tension distribution means insulated from said primary circuit comprising a rotor arm secured to said spindle for rotation therewith in a predetermined relationship with respect to said cam means, said rotor arm being in intermittent electrical contact with a secondary high tension circuit of the transformer, a plurality of circularly arranged high tension contact points adapted to be intermittently engaged by said rotor arm for distribution of the high tension voltage thereto, said cam means arranged in t'nned relation to said rotor and said high tension contact points to open the primary circuit and deenergize the rotor arm and said high tension contact points as the rotor arm leaves each of the circularly arranged contact points and energize said primary circuit after said rotor has engaged the next contact point thereby preventing arcing in the high tension circuit.

2. The neon sign voltage distributor of claim 1 wherein said rotor arm includes a metal spring contact of fiat C- shaped secured to one end thereof being adapted to brush contact with said high tension contact points, spring urged contact means electrically connected to said rotor for conducting the high tension voltage to the rotor and thereby to said Q-shaped spring contact.

3. The neon sign voltage distributor of claim 1 wherein said cam means includes means thereon adapted to cam said movable contact point into electrical contact with said fixed contact point and maintain this contact only during the period that said rotor is in electrical contact with a high tension contact point.

4. Ina neon sign voltage distributor for eliminating arcing of high tension voltage between relatively movable electrical contacts, the combination comprising, a housing, a spindle mounted for rotation therein, motor means within said housing for rotating said spindle at a predetermined fixed rate of speed, a primary circuit interrupter means comprising, cam means including a timing means thereon positioned at one end of said spindle and rotatable therewith, a fixed contact point for a primary transformer circuit, a resiliently urged movable contact point for the primary circuit being adapted to be in timed intermittent electrical contact with said first contact point upon being cammed laterally by said cam means, a high tension distributing means insulated from said primary circuit comprising, a rotor arm secured to said spindle for rotation therewith in a predetermined relationship with respect to said cam means and including a metal spring contact of a flat C-shaped secured to one end thereof, spring urged contact means electrically connecting a secondary high tension circuit of the transformer to said rotor, a plurality of circularly arranged high tension contact points mounted in said housing for brush contact with the C-shaped spring on said rotor thereby to distribute high tension electricity to said high tension contact points, said cam means is arranged in timed relation to said rotor and said high tension contact points to permit the movable contact to move into closed position wtih the fixed contact only when the C-shaped spring contact on the rotor arm is in contact with one of said high tension contact points.

References tlited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 447,230 Chamberlain Feb. 24, 1891 1,663,207 Mallory Mar. 20, 1928 1,759,436 Chryst May 20, 1930 2,954,016 Ehrlich Sept. 8, 1931 2,129,882 Shattuck et al Sept. 13, 1938 2,331,191 I-Iodgkins Oct. 5, 1943 

1. IN A NEON SIGN VOLTAGE DISTRIBUTOR FOR ELIMINATING ARCING OF HIGH TENSION VOLTAGE BETWEEN REALTIVELY MOVABLE ELECTRICAL CONTACTS, THE COMBINATION COMPRISING, A HOUSING, A SPINDLE ROTATABLE THEREIN, A MOTOR MEANS WITHIN SAID HOUSING FOR ROTATING SAID SPINDLE AT A PREDETERMINED FIXED RATE OF SPEED, A PRIMARY CIRCUIT INTERRUPTER MEANS COMPRISING, CAM MEANS POSITIONED AT ONE END OF SAID SPINDLE AND ROTATABLE THEREWITH, A FIXED CONTACT POINT FOR A PRIMARY TRANSFORMER CIRCUIT, A RESILIENTLY URGED MOVABLE CONTACT POINT FOR THE PRIMARY CIRCUIT BEING ADAPTED TO BE IN INTERMITTENT ELECTRICAL CONTACT WITH SAID FIXED CONTACT POINT UPON BEING CAMMED LATERALLY BY SAID CAM MEANS, A HIGH TENSION DISTRIBUTION MEANS INSULATED FROM SAID PRIMARY CIRCUIT COMPRISING A ROTOR ARM SECURED TO SAID SPINDLE FOR ROTATION THEREWITH IN A PREDETERMINED RELATIONSHIP WITH RESPECT TO SAID CAM MEANS, SAID ROTOR ARM BEING IN INTERMITTENT ELECTRICAL CONTACT WITH A SECONDARY HIGH TENSION CIRCUIT OF THE TRANSFORMER, A PLURALITY OF CIRCULARLY ARRANGED HIGH TENSION CONTACT POINTS ADAPTED TO BE INTERMITTENTLY ENGAGED BY SAID ROTOR ARM FOR DISTRIBUTION OF THE HIGH TENSION VOLTAGE THERETO, SAID CAM MEANS ARRANGED IN TIMED RELATION TO SAID ROTOR AND SAID HIGH TENSION CONTACT POINTS TO OPEN THE PRIMARY CIRCUIT AND DEENERGIZE THE ROTOR ARM AND SAID HIGH TENSION CONTACT POINTS AS THE ROTOR ARM LEAVES EACH OF THE CIRCULARLY ARRANGED CONTACT POINTS AND ENERGIZE SAID PRIMARY CIRCUIT AFTER SAID ROTOR HAS ENGAGED THE NEXT CONTACT POINT THEREBY PREVENTING ARCING IN THE HIGH TENSION CIRCUIT. 